Flexible container with snip-off and reseal features



June 8, 1965 M. J. KLYGIS 3,137,966

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WITH SNIPOFF AND RESEAL FEATURES Filed July 9, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 If is INVENTOR MlNDAUGRS J. Kwms June 8, 1965 M. J.KLYGIS 3,187,956

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WITH SNIP-OFF AND RESEAL FEATURES Filed July 9, 19632 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvwron Mmonuens J. KLYGIS TTORNEYS United States Patent3,187,966 FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WITH SNlP-OFF AND SEAL FEATURES MindangasJulius Klygis, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc,New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No.258,769 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-541) This invention relates to a novelflexible container of the squeeze-tube type which is particularlyadapted for dispensing paste-type substances therefrom, and inparticular, to a novel closure forming an integral part of the flexiblecontainer but constructed to be separated therefrom to form a separableclosure for reclosing a dispensing opening of the flexiblecontainerafter the integral closure has once been severed from thecontainer.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel flexible plasticcontainer having a closure integrally joined to a neck thereof, theclosure having a gripping portion and a plug portion, the plug portionbeing integrally joined to the neck and at the same time being severabletherefrom to form a separable closure whereby the plug portion iscooperable with the neck of the container to reclose an opening formedin the neck of the closure when the closure has once been severed andremoved from the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel flexible plasticcontainer of the type immediately above described in which the openingis defined by a severed lip of the neck and the closure includes acircumferential sealing seat having a diametrical dimension greater thanthe diameter of the opening whereby insertion of the plug portion of theclosure within the opening causes sealing contact between the severedlip and the circumferential sealing seat of the closure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel flexiblecontainer including a container body having an upwardly directed neck, aclosure integrally joined to the neck by a plug portion, a sealingportion joining the plug portion to a gripping portion of the closure,the closure normally closing a dispensing opening which can be opened bysevering the plug portion to form a separable closure, the plug portionhaving a cylindrical body for insertion through the dispensingopeninginto the neck of the container and the neck having meansforgripping the cylindrical body when the same has been inserted into theneck of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel flexiblecontainer of the character immediately abovedescribed wherein the meansfor gripping the cylindrical body of the plug portion are radicallyyieldable bellows forming an integral portion of the neck of thecontainer, the bellows including a plurality of circumferential ribshaving a minimum internal diameter less than the maximum externaldiameter of the plug portion of the closure to grippingly retain theclosure within the neck of the flexible container.

Still another object of this invention is theprovision of a novelplastic flexible container including an integral closure joined to aupwardly directed neck by a plug portion of the closure, the .plugportion being joined to a gripping portion by a sealing portion, theclosure normally closing a dispensing opening of the container neck butbeing removable therefrom to form a separable closure, and integralcooperable thread means forming a part of the plug portion of theclosure and the neck of the flexible plastic container whereby theclosure can threadedly reclose the dispensing opening of the containerafter having once been severed from the neck of the container.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings: 7

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of an integral flexible plasticcontainer and closure of this invention, and illustrates a plug portionof the closure integrally joined to an upstanding neck of the container.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2of FIGURE 1, and more clearly illustrates the structural arrangement ofthe container and the closure, and in phantom lines, the position of acutting edge for severing the closure from an upstanding neck of thecontainer.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container andclosure of FIGURES l and 2, and illustrates the severed closure insertedwithin the neck of the container to reclose a dispensing opening formedby the removal of the closure from the neck of the container.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a closure seated in aneck of a container, and illustrates a plurality of circumferentialgripping ribs formed in a gripping portion of the closure.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE4, and more clearly illustrates the configuration of the circumferentialgripping ribs and a sealing seat portion of the closure cooperating witha severed lip of the neck.

FIGURE 6 is a top perspective view of another closure 7 constructed inaccordance with this invention, and illustrates the closure after havingbeen removed from a container and a plurality of axial gripping ribsformed in a gripping portion of the closure.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another flexibleplastic container and integral closure forming a part of this invention,and illustrates a substantially conical plug portion spaced from a neckof the container and the position of a cutting edge in phantom outlineprior to severing the closure from the neck of the container.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the integralflexible container and closure of FIGURE 7, and illustrates the conicalplug portion inserted in the neck of the container after the closure hasbeen severed.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another integralflexible container and closure, and illustrates cooperativecomplementary threads forming an integral part of a plug portion of theclosure and of a neck of the container.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the integralflexible container and closure of FIGURE 9, and illustrates the plugportion or" the closure threaded upon the neck of the container to seala dispensing opening formed by the removal of the closure from the neckof the container.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another flexiblecontainer and integral closure forming a part of this invention, andillustrates a cylindrical .FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

plug portion of the closure integrally joined to a bellows portion of acontainer neck, and in phantom outline, the position of a cutting edgeprior to severing the closure from the container.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container andclosure of FIGURE 11, and illustrates the closure inserted within theneck of the container.

A plastic container and integral closure constructed in accordance withthis invention is best illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3 of thedrawings and is generally designated by the reference numeral 15. Theflexible, integral container and closure 15 is preferably blow moldedfrom polyethylene, polypropylene or similar plastic material.

The integral plastic container and closure 15 comprises a container body16 and a closure 17.

The container body 16 has a downwardly tapering lower body portion 18terminating in a bottom edge 26 which is preferably ultrasonicallysealed after a suitable dispensible fill has been packaged in thecontainer body 16 prior to sealing the edge 20. The fill packaged intothe container body 16 is preferably a paste-like substance which isdispensed from the container body 16 by squeezing the same after theclosure 17 has been removed.

A central body portion 21 of the container body 16 is joined to thelower body portion 18 by a circumferential shoulder 22 and to an upperbody portion 23 by a generally upwardly tapering shoulder 24. Thecentral body portion 21 of the container body 16 provides a cylindricalsurface upon which a label may be affixed or, during ablow moldingoperation, the central body portion 21 can be embossed in a conventionalmanner if so desired. The central'body portion 21 also provides an areawhich may be manually grasped to squeeze the container body 16 todispense the fill therefrom.

The upwardly tapering shoulder 24 gradually blends into an integral neck25 of the container body 16. The neck 25 has an axial opening 26 definedby a radially inwardly directed lip 27 terminating in an innerperipheral edge portion 28. The edge portion 28 defines the opening 26in the neck 25 when the closure 17 is severed and removed from the neck25 in a manner to be described more fully hereafter.

The closure 17 is integrally joined to the neck 25 of the container body16 by a substantially frusto-conical plug portion 30. The plug portion36 of the closure 17 has a maximum external diameter greater than theinternal diameter of the dispensing opening 26 defined by the edgeportion 28. A circumferential sealing groove or seat 31 joines thefrusto-conical plug portion 30 to a substantially cylindrical grippingportion 32 of the closure 17. The circumferential sealing seat 31 isdiametrically greater than the opening 26 in the neck 25 of thecontainer body 16.

A conventional cutting edge 33 (see FIGURE 2) is used to sever theclosure 17 from the container body 16 after which contents may bedispensed from the dispensing opening 26 by manually grasping andsqueezing the central body portion 21 of the container body 16. When itis desired to reclose the dispensing opening 26 of the container body16, the frusto-eonical plug portion 30 of the closure 17 is insertedthrough the opening 26 into the neck 25 of the container body 16, as isclearly illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. During the insertion ofthe plug portion 30 through the dispensing opening 26, the graduallyincreasing diameter of the plug portion 30 causes the neck 25 to flexradially outwardly during the insertion of the plug 17. After themaximum diameter of the plug portion 30 passes the edge 28 of the neck25 the neck 25 rebounds radially inwardly to the position illustrated inAs heretofore noted, the diameter of the circumferential sealing seat 31is greater than the opening 26 defined by the edge 28 of the neck 25.This prevents the neck 25 from totally rebounding to its originalconfiguration and causes the edge 28 to positively seat in thecircumferential sealing groove 31.

A closure 35 of FIGURES 4 and is substantially identical to the closure17 of FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings. The closure 35 includes asubstantially frustoconical plug portion 36 joined by a circumferentialsealing seat or groove 37 to a gripping portion 38. The gripping portion38 is provided with a plurality of circumferential ribs 411 whichfacilitate the gripping of the closure 35 to facilitate the insertionand withdrawal of the closure 35 into and out of a dispensing opening(unnumbered) of a container body neck 41.

A closure 42 of FIGURE 6 of the drawings is similar to the closure 35and includes a substantially frusto-conical plug portion 43 joined by acircumferential sealing seat or groove 44 to a gripping portion 45. Thegripping portion 45 is provided with a plurality of peripherallyarranged axially extending ribs 46 to facilitate gripping of the closure42 in the manner heretofore described.

Turning to FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, an integral flexible plasticcontainer and closure 47 comprises a container body 48 and a closure 50.The container body 48 is substantially identical to the container body16 of FIGURE 1' of the drawings, and a complete description of thecontainer body 48 is considered unnecessary for a complete understandingof this invention.

The container body 48, does however, include an upstanding neck 51having a radially inwardly directed lip 52. The lip 52 terminates in anedge 53 defining a dispensing opening 54 of the container body 48.

The closure 55 is' integrallyjoined to the lip 52 of the neck 51 bya-reduced portion 55 of a gripping portion 56 of the reclosure 50. Thegripping portion 56 is integrally joined by a circumferential sealingseat or groove 57 to a'substantially conical plug portion 58. Themaximum external dimensions of the conical plug portion 58 and thecircumferential sealing seat 57 are greater than the diameter of theopening 54 in the neck 51 of the container body 48.

A conventional cutting edge 60 (see FIGURE 7) is used to sever theclosure 47 from the container body 48 in the area of the reduced portion55. After the closure d7'has been severed and removed any content withinthe container'body 48 can be dispensed in the manner heretoforedescribed.

When it is desired to reclose the dispensing opening 54, of thecontainer body 48, the closure 47 is inverted from the positionillustrated in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 8. The conicalplug portion 58 is then axially inserted into the dispensing opening 54of the neck 51 until the edge 53 of the lip 52 seats in thecircumferential sealing seat or groove 57 of the closure 47. Duringtheinsertion of the conical plug portion 58 into the neck 51, the neck51 gradually flexes radially outwardly and subsequently rebounds to theposition illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawings. Since the externaldiametrical dimensions of the circumferential sealing seat 51 aregreater than the diameter of the opening 54 in the neck 51, the neck 51continuously urges the edge 53 defining the dispensingiopening 56 intopositive sealing contact with the circumferential sealing seat 57.

A flexible plastic container and .integral closure 61 is shownin FIGURES9 and 10 of the drawings, and includes a container body 62 and a closure63.

The container body 62 is substantially identical to the container body16 of FIGURE 1 of the drawings, and

includes an upstanding neck 64. An uppermost portion 76 (see FIGURE 10)defining the dispensing opening ,67. The closure 63 includes asubstantially cylindrical plug portion 71 having an integral internalthread 72 complementing the thread 65 of the neck 64. A radiallyinwardly directed circumferential sealing seat 69 joins the plug portion71 of the closure 63 to a substantially cylindrical gripping portion 73.

After the closure 63 has been severed and removed from the containerbody 62 and the material within the container body 62 has been dispensedthrough the opening 67 of the neck 64, the plug portion 71 of theclosure 63 is threaded upon the neck as in the manner clearlyillustrated in FIGURE 10 of the drawings. When the closure 63 iscompletely threaded upon the neck 64 of the container body 62, thesevered edge 76 of the lip 66 seats against the circumferential sealingseat 69 to effect a positive seal therewith.

In FIGURES 11 and 12 of the drawings, there is shown another flexibleplastic container and integral closure 75 comprising a plastic containerbody 76 and a closure 77.

The container body 76 is substantially identical to the container body16 of. FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings and includes an upstandingneck 78. The neck 78 terminates in an upper bellows 89. The bellows 86is formed by a plurality of radially inwardly directed ribs 31, an upperone of which is integrally joined to a radially inwardly directed lip32. The lip 82 terminates in an edge portion 83 defining a dispensingopening 84 in the neck 7 8 of the container body 76.

The closure 77 has a cylindrical portion 35 joined to the container body76 at the edge portion 83 of the neck 78. The cylindrical plug portion85 terminates upwardly at a downwardly facing circumferential sealingseat 86. The circumferential sealing seat 86 terminates at a grippingportion 87 of the closure 77. V

It should be particularly noted that the external diameter of thecylindrical plug portion 85 of the closure 77 is greater than thediameter of the dispensing opening 84 defined by the edge $3 and theinternal diametrical distance between the apex (unnumbered) of each ofthe circumferential inwardly directed ribs 81.

A conventional cutting edge 88 (see FIGURE 11) is used to sever orsnip-off the closure 77 from the container body 76. Thereafter, thematerial within the container body 76 is dispensed in the mannerheretofore described in the consideration of FIGURES 1 through 3 of thedrawings. After material has been dispensed from the container body 76through the dispensing opening 84 and it is desired to reclose thecontainer body 76, the cylindrical plug portion 85 of the closure 77 isinserted axially through the dispensing opening 84 into the neck 7 8 tothe position illustrated in FIGURE 12 of the drawings. During theinsertion of the cylindrical plug portion 85 into the neck 78 the plugportion forces each of the circumferential ribs 81 radially outwardlythereby causing axial expansion of the bellows 80. This axial expansionof the bellows Sil brings the lip 82 of the neck 78 into intimatesealing contact with the circumferential sealing seat 86 of the closure77. The smaller diameter of the dispensing opening 34 as compared to theexternal diameter of the cylindrical plug portion 35 also assures bodyhaving an integral upper, central and lower portion,

said lower portion tapering downwardly from said central portion andterminating in a narrow heat sealed edge, said central portion beingcircumferentially recessed, said upper portion including an upwardlytapering circumferential shoulder terminating in an elongated neck, anda closure integrally joined to said neck, said closure having a grippingportion and a plug portion, said gripping portion including a hollowbody defined by a top wall, a peripheral body wall, and an annularbottom wall, said annular wall being generally normal to the containerbody axis and spaced from the plug portion, a circumferential walljoining the annular wall to the plug portion, the plug portion includinga hollow body, said closure being adapted to be severed from said neckto form a separable closure whereby said plug portion is cooperable withsaid neck to reclose an opening formed therein when the closure issevered from the neck, said opening being defined by a severed lip ofsaid neck and said circumferential wall defining a circumferentialsealing seat opening radially outwardly of the container body and beingadapted to contact said lip and provide sealing contact therewith.

2. A flexible container comprising a container body terminating in anupwardly directed neck, a closure integrally joined to said neck, saidclosure having a gripping portion and a plug portion, said grippingportion including a hollow body defined by a top wall, a peripheral bodyWall, and an annular bottom wall, said annular wall being generllynormal to the container body axis and spaced from the plug portion, acircumferential wall joining the annular wall to the plug portion, theplug portion including a hollow body, said closure being adapted to besevered from said neck to form a separable closure whereby said plugportion is cooperable with said neck to reclose an opening thereinformed when the closure is severed from the neck, said opening beingdefined by a severed lip of said neck, said circumferential walldefining a circumferential sealing seat opening radially outwardly ofthe container body and being adapted for contact with said severed lip,said sealing seat joining said gripping portion to said plug portion andsaid plug portion having a diameterical distance greater than thediameter of said opening whereby insertion of said plug portion withinsaid opening causes sealing contact between said severed lip and thecircumferential sealing seat and said annular wall having a diametricaldistance greater than the diameter of the plug portion.

3. A flexible container comprising a container body having an upwardlydirected neck, a closure, said closure having a plug portion, a grippingportion, and a sealing portion joining said plug and gripping portions,said closure being integrally united by the plug portion to said neck ata dispensing opening thereof, said dispensing opening being normallyclosed by the closure but being adapted for opening by severing saidplug portion to form a separable closure, said plug portion having acylindrical body for insertion into said neck, and said neck havingradially outwardly expandable means for gripping said cylindrical bodywhen the same has been inserted in the neck of the container.

4. The flexible container as defined in claim 1 wherein said means areradially yieldable bellows forming an integral portion of said neck.

5. The flexible container as defined in claim 4 wherein said bellows area plurality of circumferential ribs having a minimum internal diameterless than the maximum external diameter of the plug portion of theclosure.

6. The flexible container as defined in claim 1 wherein said plugportion body includes thread means, and said neck includes complementarythread means whereby the closure can threadedly reclose the dispensingopening af-- ter having been once severed from the neck of thecoutainer.

7. A container comprising a container body having a neck, a closure,said closure having a plug portion, said closure being integrally unitedby the plug portion to the neck at a dispensing opening thereof, saiddispensing opening being normally closed by the closure but beingadapted for opening by severing said plug portion to form a separableclosure, the plug portion having a body for insertion into the neck, andthe neck having radially yieldable bellows forming means for grippingthe cylindrical body when the same has been inserted in the neck of thecontainer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,731,053 1/56Lockhart 222212 X 5 2,750,068 6/56 Platt 222-541 V FOREIGN PATENTS935,117 8/63 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC CONTAINER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING AN INTEGRAL UPPER, CENTRAL AND LOWER PORTION SAID LOWER PORTION TAPERING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION AND TERMINATING IN A NARROW HEAT SEALED EDGE, SAID CENTRAL PORTION BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY RECESSED, SAID UPPER PORTION INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY TAPERING CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHOULDER TERMINATING IN AN ELONGATED NECK, AND A CLOSURE INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID NECK, SAID CLOSURE HAVING A GRIPPING PORTION AND A PLUG PORTION, SAID GRIPPING PORTION INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODY DEFINED BY A TOP WALL, A PERIPHERAL BODY WALL, AND AN ANNULAR BOTTOM WALL, SAID ANNULAR WALL BEING GENERALLY NORMAL TO THE CONTAINER BODY AXIS AND SPACED FROM THE PLUG PORTION, A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WALL JOINING THE ANNULAR WALL TO THE PLUG PORTION, THE PLUG PORTION INCLUDING A HOLLOW BODY, SAID CLOSURE BEING ADAPTED TO BE SEVERED FROM SAID NECK TO FORM A SEPARABLE CLOSURE WHEREBY SAID PLUG PORTION IS COOPERABLE WITH SAID NECK TO RECLOSE AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN WHEN THE CLOSURE IS SEVERED FROM THE NECK, SAID OPENING BEING DEFINED BY A SEVERED LIP OF SAID NECK AND SAID CIRCUMFERENTIAL WALL DEFINING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SEALING SEAT OPENING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE CONTAINER BODY AND BEING ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID LIP AND PROVIDE SEALING CONTACT THEREWITH. 